Overview

Incident:

There is a surge in (AI-generated) ads masquerading as legitimate news sources and linked to cryptocurrency scams. These ads have increased in volume, in nature (more political) and are more sophisticated than similar scams reported throughout the year.

Canadian Involvement:

Ads are targeting Canadians, using the branding of reputable major news sources like the CBC and CTV, with content that is politically divisive and increasingly targeting election narratives and electoral candidates. Ads appear to originate beyond borders, e.g. Iceland, Czechia, India and the United States.

Why it’s important: 

False but also divisive, high-volume content, presenting itself as a legitimate information source, poses a severe risk of influencing public perception and ultimately impacting the integrity and outcome of the election.